Detroit Evening Report: Animal Control urges Detroit residents to keep pets inside amid frigid temperatures

Frigid temperatures in Michigan are prompting Detroit Animal Control to remind animal owners to bring in their pets if possible.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

A Wind Chill Advisory will be in effect for all of southeast Michigan from 7 p.m. Tuesday through noon Wednesday, with wind chills 15-20 degrees below zero expected. Anyone exposed to the extremely cold temperatures for more than 30 minutes could get frostbite, according the the U.S. National Weather Service, so caution should be taken, and that includes our pets.

The state of Michigan requires by law to provide outdoor animals with adequate food, water and shelter. A well-built, insulated, slant-roof dog house that is off of the ground and protected from strong winds is considered adequate.

Cats should be kept indoors or at least brought into a warm, animal-proofed garage or shed during severe weather. It’s equally important to remember cats often seek the warmth of car engines, so knock on the car hood or honk the horn before starting the car to give them a chance to escape.

Animal owners who do not follow the law will be subject to misdemeanor animal cruelty violations, which could carry a sentence of up to 93 days in jail, up to $1,000 fine, community service and losing the right to own a pet for a specific amount of time.

To report pets left outside without proper shelter in Detroit, residents can call the Detroit Animal Control Hotline at 313-922-DOGS (3647).

Other headlines for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024:

• Jim Harbaugh has interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their head coaching vacancy, a week after he led the University of Michigan to a national title.
• The City of Dearborn and DTE Energy have teamed up to electrify all City buildings with 100% solar energy by 2026.
• Shield’s Pizza is offering free pizza on Tuesday in celebration of the Detroit Lions’ first playoff win in 32 years this past weekend.
• Local nonprofit We Shall Read will be taking applications through Friday, Jan. 19 for a free reading and literacy tutor training course beginning Jan. 24 at the Henry Ford Centennial Library. 
• The Lions will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field at 3 p.m. Sunday after beating Matt Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams at home this past weekend, 24-23.
• The Detroit Red Wings will be in Florida on Wednesday to face the Panthers, after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2.
• The Detroit Pistons finally won again, 129-117 against the Washington Wizards. They will host the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena Wednesday night.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.